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Band Invites Music Copying

Posted by Zonk on from the distribution-to-the-people dept.

R C writes "The BBC is currently running a story about the band Carbon Silicon, including former members of The Clash and Generation X. The report claims that the band is encouraging fans to download tracks, demos, and works in progress from their website . Talking of re-capturing the culture of recording a tape to lend to your friends, they believe that the free availability of their music won't affect sales, and that the availability extra material like tracks in development will attract and engage even more fans."

9 of 248 comments (clear)

  1. OSS by fembots · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What we need now is Open Source Songs. Tracks in development are released and fans can chip in and make those songs better.

    --
    Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
    1. Re:OSS by roman_mir · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Tracks in development are released and fans can chip in and make those songs better. - Yeah, ok, once you are done defining what 'better' means, we could then just write a randomizer and a 'make this music better' algorythm and that would be it. The way to make music. But you know what, maybe this is how they make music nowadays. In fact I am quite sure it is!

      (disclamer: I don't listen to music anymore.)

      --
      You can't handle the truth.
    2. Re:OSS by kryten_nl · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'm starting up Grokmusic.org as we speak.... KN

      --
      For the perfect anti-Unix, write an OS that thinks it knows what you're doing better than you do and let it be wrong.
  2. License by Andrew+Tanenbaum · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I see that this is free as in beer, but is it free as in freedom? (can I alter and distribute?)

    1. Re:License by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Who cares? I'm a huge fan of open source, but not everything has to be open source. They're giving away music, for crying out loud. To me, that's commendable. There's no reason they have to allow someone to remix what they've already done. If they do that, great, but don't think any less of them if they don't.

      And besides, the best way to be creative with music is to pick up an instrument and play something. Want to encourage creativity and give people something to listen to besides what the record companies produce? Stand on a street corner in your local restaurant/bar/nightclub district and play something. You don't even have to ask for money, just play. If enough people did this, maybe people would come out and listen instead of sitting in front of a TV at night.

  3. Nice but not unique by Knome_fan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    For example recently I discovered http://magnatune.com/ which is a whole label following the same idea.

    I think people should really encourage this and btw. they have some pretty nice music there.

    (No, I'm in no way affiliated to them, I just like the concept and hand a fun afternoon recently listening through their offerings.)

  4. There have been experiments with this by jd · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I'm not sure any have been an overwhelming success, but I know of several groups that have released GPL music. I spent some time working on GPLed movies, but the interest wasn't there at that point, so that effort is temporarily on hold, but music is another matter.


    GPLed music shouldn't be too hard, as you can start by GPLing scores, MIDI files and the like. The samples would then logically follow (as they are derived works, so must be GPL). Editing at the more basic level would seem easiest, so that is why I'm thinking that is where you'd really want to start.


    Music editors (and video editors) fill Freshmeat on a daily basis, so there's no shortage of ways of editing the final tracks, though convincing the RIAA that it is legal might be another matter.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  5. This doesn't surprise me. by Recovering+Hater · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This move is right in line with Mick Jones. One of the founding members of The Clash. Back in the 70's when The Clash was young they had the song "Complete Control" which was all about the artist retaining all forms of control regarding their art. It was aimed right at their label IIRC. I always did like the forward thinking of that band and am glad to see one of the surving members still at it. I wish them success. Keep on rocking in the free world mates.

    --
    My humor is probably your flamebait
  6. Honour system? by asdfrewq · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've always considered an honour system could be a perfect way for bands to still see monetary reward from filesharing.

    The basic concept is whenever you download songs from a band that you find particulary good, instead of buying the CD and giving a majority cut of the purchase to various middle men and record companies, you donate to an (non-profit?) organisation that then distributes it directly to the band. If the system was set up correctly, meaning you can access almost any band from the one website and one could be assured that the money would indeed go to the band/artist, I believe many people would use such an option rather then buy the CD's of bands they like.